In this guide, we describe the different options available to you to make your website compatible with the latest PHP version.
Our support is ready to help you to figure out what is wrong and guide you in the right direction. However, they cannot fix the script for you.
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- Are you using a CMS like WordPress, Joomla or Drupal?
- Is your website made with custom code, that was specially written?
Are you using a CMS like WordPress, Joomla or Drupal?
Then you can probably fix your site by updating it to the newest version. Some of your plugins, modules or extensions, may not be supported, but it's usually not a problem to find an alternative. Besides, if a plugin or extension doesn't support PHP 8.0, this is an indication that it hasn't been updated in a while, which might lead to other vulnerabilities.
Can you still revert to the previous PHP version?
Until 28 November 2022, PHP 7.4 is still available in the control panel, meaning you can go back to fix things. Reverting back to an older PHP version should cause your site to work again, allowing you to do updates from the back-end, which might be easier.
Please keep in mind that after 28 November, PHP 7.4 will be permanently removed from our servers and all websites are upgraded to the latest stable version. So going back to a previous version is only a means to help you fix the site, not a solution.
Is it no longer possible to go back to a previous PHP version?
Then you need to do a manual update. We have created a guide on how to do this for WordPress: Update WordPress manually.
For Drupal, please check the following external guides:
For Joomla, please check these links with guides and documentation:
Is your website made with custom code, that was specially written?
Then fixing it will be difficult; it requires the code to be rewritten to make it compatible with PHP 8.0.
Can you contact the person or company that created your site?
The person who wrote the code is usually best equipped to update it. So if you have the option to get this person to help you, that may be the easiest solution. Otherwise, another developer that is familiar with coding in PHP should also be able to rewrite this for you.
The disadvantage of this solution is that you may have to pay a fee, and you will probably encounter the same issue when PHP 8.0 reaches end-of-life on 26 November 2023.
Have you considered switching to Website Builder or WordPress?
If fixing your site turns out to be too costly or time-consuming, it may be easier to recreate it on a different platform, like Website Builder or WordPress.
Website Builder doesn't use PHP at all, meaning you never have to update it. It's developed entirely in-house, which ensures that it works very well on our servers and is easy to maintain. If you need a website to showcase your company or organisation with an option to contact you, then Website Builder should cover your basics.
If you want to have more dynamic content, then WordPress is a good option. WordPress is used in roughly a third of all websites. This ensures that it is constantly updated and has a lot of themes and plugins to choose from, to cover all your needs.
Tip: Try out our Managed WordPress solution, giving you the best of both worlds; all the flexibility you need, while we take care of the updates and security.
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